Approaches, challenges, and recommendations for clinical practice in gestational syphilis: a scoping review.

Abstract

Objective: to map the scientific evidence on the approach to gestational syphilis, the sociodemographic profile of pregnant women, and the challenges related to its management and follow-up.

Method: scoping review carried out in October 2024 in the following data sources: Virtual Health Library, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Original articles in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, covering the period from 2019 to 2024 and addressing gestational syphilis as their main topic, were included. The snowballing technique, recommended by the JBI, was used as a strategy to achieve literature saturation. The studies were organized into three main themes, and content analysis of the data was performed.

Results: 39 studies were included. Late diagnosis of syphilis during prenatal care and the failure to address sexual partners stand out as persistent challenges. Sociodemographic factors such as Black or Brown race/skin color, low educational level, and difficulties in accessing health services contribute to the persistence of these scenarios.

Conclusion: the increase in the incidence of gestational syphilis cases and regional and socioeconomic inequities persists. Failures in the screening and management of the disease were identified, requiring actions in prenatal care and equitable policies.